A variation on the Emperors New Clothes

 On Thursday five members of the California legislature called out some LA talk show bullies by holding a fundraiser in Sacramento.   John Kobylt and Ken Champiou are afternoon hosts on KFI in Los Angeles.   They mix arrogance with ignorance in stunning fashion.  

One of the campaigns they have mounted since the beginning of the year has been to suggest that any GOP member of the legislature that votes to put the extension of taxes that were adopted two years ago on the ballot should have his head put on a stake.   That nicely parallels a campaign by ethanol supporter and anti-tax advocate Grover Norquist who has promised primary opponents against any GOP member who supports allowing the people to vote.

Wednesday's fundraiser was unusual on many counts.  First, the five members - who with a couple of others in the GOP caucus have taken their responsibility of legislating serious - pointed out that just because you have 50,000 watts does not mean you have brains.  Second, Governor Brown attended the function.  Brown recently has been quoting Article II, Section 1 of the California Constitution which reserves all political power to the people.

The point here is not whether the extensions of taxes are a good idea or a bad one or whether the voters would accept the extensions of the taxes that were adopted by the legislature two years ago or not.  The point is that the members who stand up to John and Ken are taking their job seriously.  The state's budget deficit has many sources  and the best way to solve those problems is to entertain lots of alternatives.   By discussing those alternatives the GOP might be able to secure a vote on issues like reforming the state's pension system or to establish a long term spending cap.   Both of which would reduce future deficits and at the same time point out the differences between the democrats and republicans on key issues.  

John and Ken's strategy, if you can call it that, would consign the GOP to a permanent minority status. It is refreshing to see five members point out that the shock jocks have no brains.